Coupling apparatus for air or steam pipes



(No Model.)

J. EMERSON. COUPLING APPARATUS FOR AIR 0B STEAM PIPES.

No. 516,480. Patented Mar.'13, 1894.

- Nrrn' TATES ATENT OFFICE.

JAMES EMERSON, OF W ILLIMANSETT, ASSIGNOR TO HORACE H. STEVENS,

I OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

COUPLING APPARATUS FOR AIR OR STEAM PIPES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 516,480, dated March 13, 1894.

Application filed July 13, 1891.

T0 at whom it may concern;

Be itknown that I, JAMES EMERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Willimansett, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and usef Lil Improvements in Coupling Apparatus for Air or Steam Pipes of Railway-Oars, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the couplings or connections between the air or steam pipes of railway cars. 7

The object of the invention is to improve and simplify the connections so that at and under each end of the car there will be the fewest possible number of separate parts and conduits, and whereby the coupling is effected without danger to the attendant.

The invention consists in the construction, and arrangement or combination of parts, all substantially as will hereinafter more fully appear and be set forth in the claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of parts at the platforms or ends of two passenger cars embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line 22 Fig. 1.

While the present invention is available w 1th respect to the conduits and couplings for pipes for steam or hot water for warming the cars,1t1sdeemed particularlyadvantageous for use in connection with the conduits forming portions of the air-brake mechanism,as will hereinafter be manifest.

In the drawings, A A represent the platforms of two passenger cars, as approached, and a (1. represent the transverse horizontal guard-rails, arranged as usual, and supported by the posts or stanohions d d, the arrangement of which is generally as usual. The posts 61 cl, as shown are formedin sections or portions 10 (see Fig. 2) which are tubular, and sections 12, which are solid. The tubular post sections are passed vertically down through the end timbers, f of the platform and extended below the same, being united, by the couplings, 13, with the transverse pipe section g. The said post sections 10 10, have collars or flanges 14, formed or secured thereon at the level of the top of the platform, and each of said sections 10, at its upper end has provided therefor a T-coupling, 15, into the Serial No. 399,401. (No model.)

upper branch of which the screw-threaded lower end of the post-'section'12 enters, said post-section by its upper extremity passing through and beyond a perforation in the guard-rail a and receiving on its upper end portion,which is screw-threaded,a confining nut 16.

it represents a longitudinally extended air conduit for the car which at each end of the car has communication with the hollow posts (1 d for such car, as plain, (see Fig. 1 and connections are provided whereby communication may be established between a hollow post on the one car and that on the next car; and I describe same as specifically constructed, although departure may be made from the precise details without departing from the spirit of the invention.

17 represents a horizontal pipe section connected to the transverse branch of the T- coupling 15, and to the latter is connected the valve orstop-cock coupling qlwhile to the latter in alignment with the pipe-section, 17, is connected the pipe-section 18, which is supported by the pending lug 19, that is aflixed 'to the guard-rail a. To the pipe-section, 18, on the one car is permanently affixed an L- coupling or member, 20, to which is connected a flexible hose-pipe j, which is of a length considerably greater than sufficient to extend between the opposing tubular posts of two cars when in their coupled relations, and the said hose-pipe, j, terminates in a pipe-section, 22, whichis provided at its end with an L, 23, to which is attached one member, 24, of a readily detachable-pipe-coupling. The other member, 25, of the pipe coupling with which the one 24 is coupled is secured to the section 18 of the next car.

It is not the purpose of this specification to set forth any particular kind of pipe coupling, and the one which is merely indicated at 24. 25, forms the subject matter of a separate application for Letters Patent of the United States filed by me July 13, 1891, Serial No.

399,402, for the said coupling forming the subject matter of the application referred to is forms of pipe couplings may be advanta- IOO geously employed for efiecting the union between the hose, j, whichis connected in substance with the hollow post of one car and the lateral extension which is rigidly supported from the hollow post of the next car.

In the drawings, Fig. 1, the coupling devices are shown as being provided in duplicate, each car at its end having at the side of the one hollow post the connected flexible hose with a coupling member at its free end while at the other side of the other hollow post for such car is the rigid transverse tubular extension having a coupling member 25, so that any car may be turned end for end and yet remain capable of having its pipes coupled to another similarly equipped car.

The purpose of the stop cocks, '21 will be readily understood as permitting a closing of the air or steam conduit at the end of each car when such car is the last car, or when it is desired to shut ofi communication between the pipes of any two cars.

A construction and an arrangement of parts, generally substantially as described, involve many practical advantages, among which may be mentioned those of economy, compactness,

availability for safe and easy operation,for the coupling operation is performed entirely above the platforms,-avoidance of confusion by inexperienced attendants, and general sightliness.

I claim- The combination with the platform of a railway car, the elevated guard-rail therefor, and the air or steam conduit of the car, of a tubular vertical section having aconnection at its lower end with said conduit and extended above the platform and connected with the guard-rail and provided above the platform with a branch coupling, a laterally extended tubular extension connected to said branch coupling and at its extremity adapted to receive the connection therewith of one end of a flexible tubular coupling section, and a pending lug supported from the guard-rail and in turn supporting the saidlateral tubular extension substantially as. and for the purpose set forth.

JAMES EMERSON. Witnesses:

WM. S. BELLoWs, J. D. GARFIELD. 

